-
Battle of Lexington and Concord
This is the first battle between the American Colonies and the British. At Lexington, the British outnumbered the militiamen. Once the firing started, the militia fled to Concord. In Concord, the militiamen crossed the North Bridge to join the rest of their militia. They used the North Bridge as an advantage, and after the British crossed the bridge too, the militia defeated them. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The British made a fort on Bunker Hill, but soon stopped and abandoned it. The colonials used this advantage by using the already made fort during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Because the colonials were now using this fort, the British launched three attacks on them. The third attack led the rebels to leave the hills. The British had won this battle. -
Capture of Montreal
Many people living in the thirteen colonies thought that Canada wanted to get rid of British rule, also. So in September 1775, an American force marched from Fort Ticonderoga, in New York, and in early November had reached Montreal. On November 13, Montreal fell to the rule of General Richard Montgomery and the American force with barely any resistance. -
Assault on Quebec
Two American forces decided to attack Quebec. One force lead by General Montgomery, and the other by General Arnold. General Arnold's force made it their first in November, and even though they didn't have supplies, they tried to attack. Because they weren't surrendering, he decided to wait for Montgomery's force, who arrived in early December. The attack didn't go well because there was a snowstorm which made the American's muskets useless. Montgomery had been killed, Arnold had been wounded. -
British Fleet Arrives in New York
They had abandoned Boston in March 1776, and decided to focus on New York. This massive force appeared of the coast on June 29. The Howes' brothers orders were to take New York City, and then head north to the Hudson River to meet up with general Burgoyne's force that was heading south from Canada. On July 3, General Howe and his men had landed on Saten Island, which they would use as a base. -
Battle of Long Island
General How sent his forces from Staten Island to Long Island. General George Washington sent 10,000 men under General Putnam to slow down the British. From the attack, 300 American's were killed, and 1,400 captured or missing. The British lost fewer than 400. -
Battle of White Plains
Abandoning Manhatten to the British, General Washington reestablish his line near the village of White Plains. On Octover 28, General Howe launched an attack, which lead the Continental Army from the field with a cost of some 230 men. Howe missed his chance to destroy Washington's army, because instead he stopped and ordered construction of artillery batteries. This let General Washington retreat further to the north, taking supplies and his wounded men with him. -
"The American Crisis" excerpt
-
Battle of Trenton
In early December, General Howe ordered his army to cease operations for the winter, they could wait until the spring. Washington tried the unexpected. On Christmas day, he and his men crossed the Delaware River toward Trenton, where regiments of Hessian mercenaries were stationed. On the morning of the 26, the Continental Army attacked, surprising their enemy. By 9:30am the fighting was over. 100 Hessians had been killed, nearly 900 captured. By noon, Washington and his men withdrew. -
Battle of Princeton
General Washington wanted to follow up his victory at Trenton by attacking a much larger British force in New Jersey before cearing operations for winter. On January 3, Washington skillfully eluded Cornwallis and headed to Princeton. There the Continental Army met a smaller British force, inflicting 500 more casualties on them. In a matter of days, Washington managed to drive British from New Jersey. His exploits reenergized the revolutionary cause, leading 8,000 new recruits to join the army. -
Report by a Committee of the Continental Congress excerpt
-
Battle of Ticonderoga
General St. Clair was sure the fort would hold off Burgoyne's army, but the fort had a major weakness-if an enemy held the heights of a nearby mountain called Sugar Loaf, cannons could be fired down the interior of the fort. St. Clair thought Sugar Loaf was too high for the British to move their cannon on; he was wrong. The Americans inside the fort awake on July 5 to the British setting up their artillery on Sugar Loaf. They evacuated that night. British met no resistance in Fort Ticonderoga. -
Seige of Fort Stanwix
On August 4 St. Leger's troops surrounded Fort Stanwix, ambushing two days later, destroying 800 local militia that were on their way to relieve the fort. The defenders of Fort Stanwix refused to surrender. As time passed St. Leger's Indian warriors (unaccustomed to sitting around and waiting for the other side to give up)began to desert. Frantic for a new force, General Arnold sent agents to spread a rumor that he was on his way with a large force. St.Leger headed back to Canada.(Ended on 8/23) -
Battle of Brandywine
Rather than making a direct attack, General Howe divided his forces. He sent 5,000 men to advance to Washington, while the rest moved to the right flank of the Continental Army. A dense fog on the morning of September 11 helped to hide Howe's movements. In a matter of hours, Washington's force retreated. 1,000 American killed/wounded, 400 captured. 600 British casualties. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is actually two separate battles fought nearly three weeks apart. In the first, also called Battle of Freeman's Farm, General Arnold was able to hold off British attack. Burgoyne's troops dug entrenchments, hoping to be joined by soldiers from New York City. He ordered one final attack. In the second, also called Battle of Bemis Heights, the British's assualt was followed up by an American counterattack that drove Burgoyne's army from the field. -
A letter from George Washington to the Continental Congress excerpt
-
A letter George Washington to John Banister excerpt
-
Battle of Monmouth
Washington had decided to attack the British on their march, near Monmouth, New Jersey. It almost ended in a disaster for the Continental Army when a general prematurely called a retreat. Washington rallied the troops, inspiring them to repel British counterattacks. The battle was inconclusive, both sides losing men to heat srtoke as to combat. The British ultimately lost nearly 1,200 soldiers, compared to fewer than 500 casualties on the American side.
